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Advantages of Using a Direct Mailing Service for Marketing Campaigns

9/27/2021

 
Direct mail marketing is an effective way to reach your existing customers and prospective clients. By utilizing a mailing service to send out your physical advertisements, you not only save time, but money as well.
 
Keep reading to learn more about direct mail marketing for your small business. Plus discover the benefits of using a printing and mailing service to send out your branded marketing materials.
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What is Direct Mail Marketing?

Where digital marketing is advertising through digital methods such as search engines, websites, email and social media, direct mail marketing is advertising through physical correspondence. This may include sending postcard campaign, or our favorite, mailing out personalized calendars with your promotional information.

Does Direct Mail Marketing Still Work?

Despite the move to more digital methods of communication over the years, direct mail marketing does still work. The numbers also show that this marketing method actually has a higher response rate than email, in spite of its declined use.
 
Here are some of the things that this method of advertisement so effective for business marketers:

  • Direct mail has a higher return on investment (ROI) than both paid search and online ads.
  • This method of promotion has a higher response rate than email.
  • 86% of consumers read their mail. As a result, most businesses who employ this strategy gain 10% more new customers than they do with email.
  • It’s an interactive way to reach existing customers as well as new ones. Including a coupon or promotional offer can help remind customers you’re available and encourage them to take action.
  • People love getting letters. And handwritten notes are even better! They make customers and potential clients feel valued. That’s why our printing and mailing services provide handwritten fonts for your GiftNotes™ and envelope addresses.​
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  • It’s a great way to connect with prospective clients that don’t use email or social media. If your target audience doesn’t really use digital forms of communication, direct mail is a great way to touch base.
  • Companies are turning to digital marketing now more than ever. This means more competition and fewer opened emails. On the other hand, it paves the way for greater success with direct mail marketing as there’s a much better chance of being seen. Including a small gift with your marketing materials, such as a personalized fridge magnet or magnetic sports schedules, not only makes consumers more likely to open their mail, but it also leaves them with an advertisement they’ll keep and utilize. So, you always stay top-of-mind.
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How Much Does Direct Mail Marketing Cost?

When you consider the price of both cost-per-click (CPC) and cost-per-impression (CPI) campaigns, direct mail doesn’t cost much. Most pieces of direct mail will result in costs anywhere between $.50 and $3 each.
 
In contrast, a typical CPM (cost per mille or 1000 impressions) on Google generally runs $2.80 and up. Whereas social media advertising will bring you an even bigger bill. Twitter runs $5.76 on average for CPM ads, LinkedIn is over $6, and Instagram is around $6.70. Facebook, on the other hand averages over $9.
 
When you take into account that direct mail has a higher engagement rate than both email and online ads, this form of marketing can actually cost less than most digital advertising. Therefore, it’s a wise investment when you need to stretch your budget further.
 
However, there are many factors that determine what you pay in the end. By sending higher volume campaigns with Magnets USA®, you receive additional quantity discounts that save you even more.
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How to Use Direct Mail to Reach Consumers

If you’re new to using direct mail to reach your customers, we have some tips to help you get started. These easy ideas will not only save you time, but also money.

  • Have a clear definition of your target audience before you begin. By directly targeting your consumer base, you increase your return on investment as well as your engagement rate. You also save money by not sending out advertising materials to people who don’t need your services or products. (If you aren’t sure who your target audience is, Magnets USA® can help you create one!)
  • Run test campaigns first. We recommend you send out smaller direct mail campaigns to your target audience first to gauge its potential for success. Make sure you include a coupon code you can track online along with your contact information. This allows you to monitor the engagement.
  • Just as you would with a customer email, include a strong call-to-action on all the marketing communications you mail out. This can be a survey, a coupon, or for real estate marketing, an invite to an open house or customer appreciation event.
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  • Design your mailers or postcards for direct mail so they stand out and are visually appealing. You also want to proofread your direct mail pieces to ensure there are no typos or grammatical errors.
  • Just as you include your contact information on your business mailers and postcards, don’t forget to also provide your social media and website information. This can help grow your social media following and provide an additional way for you to reach prospective customers with the services you offer. You can do this by either providing your social media handles or by including a QR code that can quickly be scanned for instant access to a custom landing page for the campaign. (Need help engaging your customers on social media? Check out our real estate social media post ideas!)
  • Make sure you follow up with customers after you send out a campaign. Keep track of the response you get from potential clients. Then reconnect with those who engaged by sending a thank you card.
 
You’ll find that you save both time and money by using a direct mailing service. When you use our bulk mailing service, we not only send out your campaign materials for you, but we also print and assemble them in-house right here the United States.
 
Need ideas for your first full-service mailing? Our self-mailer, year-at-a-glance calendars are Every Door Direct Mail® compliant with no need for an envelope! They are just one of the many full-service options we offer to help you succeed in your direct mail advertising campaigns.
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What is Full-Service Mailing?

In short, full-service mailing is a service designed to send out your advertising materials for you through the United States Postal Service.
 
Our custom mailing service provides you with personalized, printed materials and a complete mail service-in-one. We not only help you create your custom marketing products to keep you top-of-mind, but we also assemble and mail out your campaign materials for you.
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Is It Cheaper to use a Mailing Service?

Our quantity discounts allow us to send your direct mail marketing materials via USPS for less than buying stamps and mailing them yourself.
 
To qualify for our discounted bulk mailing service, you need to order at least 200 direct mail marketing pieces. We then tackle the job of printing your marketing materials, assembling your mailers, then sending it out to clients for you.
 
For additional savings, Magnets USA® also sends out your direct mail pieces up to 3.3 oz. for the same cost as a 1 oz. product.
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Why Use a Mailing Service?

There are several reasons to let us both print and mail your magnetic marketing products using our easy mail service.

  • Convenience
  • Affordability
  • Time-Saver
 
The last thing you need in your life is more stress. By utilizing our bulk mailing service, we save you time and money. After all, just thinking about sending out 500 direct mail pieces seems daunting. That’s why, in addition to our custom promotional products we also offer full mailing services.
 
From printing your personalized marketing materials to stuffing, sealing, addressing, and shipping your envelopes, we’re dedicated to making your life easier!

We can even help you create a targeted mailing list, so you can reach more people and generate stronger leads. Choose our comprehensive mailing services today and learn how we can help you attain your business goals more efficiently.
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What Does Full-Service Mailing Include?

Our mail services are a convenient way to send out your marketing pieces. Our full-service mailing includes the following to make sending direct mail more efficient and effective:

  • Our cost to you includes the actual cost of postage, single list processing, CASS (coding accuracy support system) certification, printing the return and mailing addresses onto envelopes, insertion of your direct mail marketing materials, packing and post office delivery.
  • We offer four font choices that are printed directly onto your envelopes rather than attaching printed labels.
  • We verify every address and remove undeliverable or incomplete addresses from your mailing list.
  • For an additional fee we also offer return service requested for undeliverable mail and address service requests for mail forwarding.
  • Our printing and mailing service also allows you to include a letter with your direct mail marketing materials. These letters, called GiftNotes™, are available as an upgrade with our small, padded products, promotional calendars, and smaller sized marketing magnets. These personalized notes are available in three sizes to best serve your needs and can be customized with your message, font choice, and photo or contact information for a more personal connection.
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Customer Feedback on Our Mailing Services

Still undecided? Here are some of our customer reviews from people who used our services for their real estate direct mail marketing:
My magnets arrived yesterday, and they are perfect! A co-agent received hers as well, and I must admit that I am envious of the outstanding job Magnets USA did with addressing and stuffing her magnets. I will surely use that service with my next order. Thank you for your help in expediting our orders. We are thrilled! - Lovelle Blitch, RE/MAX
I recommend your mailing services to other agents, because it's hassle-free and saves me a ton of time and money. - John Pate, RealtySouth
Thank you both so very much. So far, we have attracted 4 buyers and a listing due to our KNOCK postcard mailing. This program is intended to take a lot of stress off of our clients. They could immediately see the benefits! The jumbo glossy postcards came out beautifully and yes, there are a few addresses to update so thank you for the suggestion to have undeliverable mail sent to us. (also giving us a chance to touch these clients). We intend to do a second KNOCK mailing at the beginning of May or thereabouts. - Justine L.
Whether you need a postcard mailing service or a bulk mailing service for custom campaign materials, Magnets USA® is here to help! Feel free to contact us to learn more about how we can assist you with your advertising needs. Or visit our website now to see what we have to offer!
 
For more marketing tips and custom promotional products to keep you at the top of game, subscribe to our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

How to Create Holiday Gift Baskets for Clients

9/24/2021

 
One of the biggest struggles during the holiday season is figuring out what to give clients for gifts. Luckily, we’re here to help with some handy tips! Learn how to build holiday gift baskets for your top clients. Plus, explore our ideas for client holiday gift baskets to help you take the guesswork out of your customer Christmas gifts.
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What Do You Put in a Client Gift Basket for Christmas?

What you include in a client gift basket largely depends on the customer. We think it’s important to personalize the gift for the customer. This makes it unique to them and ensures that your present contains things that they would enjoy. However, if you are putting together baskets in bulk with a holiday theme, you can use the same elements for each one.
 
Just be sure that you cater your client holiday gifts for the crowd you’re targeting. This means, that if your clientele consists of foodies, give kitchen themed items. A self-care or spa themed gift basket is perfect for women who enjoy extra pampering. Or gift sports fans baskets with collegiate themed products. What you don’t want to do is give a wine and cheese basket to someone in recovery.
 
If you are giving baked goods or other food gifts, take care when making your selections. You want to avoid any potential food allergies that clients may have.
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Gift Basket Gift Ideas for Real Estate Clients

Here are some popular elements that real estate agents and other industry businesses use for their holiday client gift baskets:

  • Candy or snacks
  • Bath and body products
  • Wine and cheese
  • Artisan coffee or tea blends
  • Custom coasters
  • Homemade baked goods​
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  • Succulents or desktop plants
  • DIY kits
  • Handwritten note card
  • Magnetic calendars
  • Coffee table book
  • Toiletry bag or kit​
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  • Personalized grilling set
  • Pasta and other pantry staples
  • Monogrammed mug or drinkware
  • Magnetic bottle openers​
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  • Keepsake boxes
  • Kitchen scrapers with a set of dish towel, oven mitts and an apron
  • Emergency car tool
  • Seasonal sports schedules​
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  • Custom cutlery
  • Personalized serving ware
  • Wine accessories
  • House-shaped cutting board
  • Nuts and fruit
  • Pet products for animal owners
  • Summer sausages, smoked fish, and artisan mustard​
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  • Scented candles or other holiday home fragrances
  • Holiday advent calendars
  • Small board games or card decks
  • Christmas decorations
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How to Build a DIY Christmas Gift Basket

When creating a REALTOR® gift basket to give as holiday gifts, the last thing you want is for it to look sparse or incomplete. Therefore, we’ve pulled together our top tips for building a beautiful gift basket for the holiday season.

1. Plan Ahead

Before you start shopping for items to put in your client gift basket, it’s important to plan ahead. Decide on the theme you’d like to use for all your holiday gift baskets. Or write out a list of your clients with their interests to create a personalized real estate agent gift basket for each customer.
 
This makes shopping for your gift basket components both faster and easier. It also gives you more time to take advantage of seasonal sales and special offers, especially if you’re on a budget.

2. Determine How Many Items Should Be in the Gift Basket

Ultimately, the number of customer Christmas gifts you include in your gift basket is determined by the both the size of the basket and the size of your gifts.
 
We recommend you include 4-5 items in a small gift basket. For a medium-sized REALTOR® gift basket, choose 7-8 items. Finally, we suggest you pick 10 or more products for a large basket.
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3. Buy the Gifts and Supplies

Once you’ve determined what to include in your gift baskets, then you need to buy the gifts. You can also make homemade gifts if you’re extra crafty.
 
In addition to the presents you’ll be using, don’t forget to shop for the baskets and filler, cellophane wrap for the baskets, and decorative ribbon.

4. Assemble the Holiday Gift Baskets

The next step after you’ve gathered all the material and supplies you need, is to assemble your gift baskets.
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Add Filler

You want to use filler in your holiday real estate gift baskets to form a base for your gifts. Filler also helps to cover any elements you use to give your gifts baskets additional height. As this is a professional basket for clients, we advise you don’t use crumpled or shredded newspaper as filler. It is also helpful to color coordinate your filler with the overall theme of the basket.
 
Here are some ideas of the types of filler you can use to build holiday gift baskets for customers:
 
  • Fabric such as tea towels, a blanket or tablecloth
  • Shredded crinkle paper
  • Crinkle wood filler shred or packing straw
  • Shredded cellophane
  • Raffia
  • Tissue paper shreds
  • Excelsior, or curved wood shavings
  • Floral foam
  • Unique fillers such as wrapped candy, shelled nuts, or faux flower petals
 
Densely pack the filler you choose to ensure you have a sturdy base for the contents. We recommend you pack the base of basket three-quarters of the way full if you’re using large items. For smaller gifts, fill the basket to the top.
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How to Add Height to a DIY Christmas Gift Basket

Elevating the components inside your Christmas gift basket will help to create the perfect presentation. There are several ways to add height to a gift basket. The easiest way to do this, however, is to add elements to the bottom of the basket to boost the products you include inside.
 
Here are several ways to boost the height of the components in your container:

  • For shallow baskets, you can make things appear taller by adding basket filler, bubble wrap, or crinkled tissue paper to the bottom. Then stack the gift elements on top.
  • If you are using a deep basket or container, you can use empty boxes on the bottom to create height. You can stack the gifts on top of the boxes, then hide the base with crinkle paper.
  • Alternately, if you are using items such as a garden trowel or pencils, you can poke holes in the box to hold these elements upright.
  • Or use bamboo skewers poked into Styrofoam squares or floral foam. Then tape elements onto the skewers to elevate the smaller gifts.
  • Arrange the components so that the largest element is in the center or the back of the basket. Then use medium sized items to fill in around the larger piece with the smallest gifts around the outer, inside edge.
  • To help you design your client gift baskets for Christmas, we recommend this video. It has some great ideas on how to get your items to stand up tall for the perfect presentation.

Secure the Items Inside

With the elements arranged, you now need to secure the items in your gift basket.
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To do this, you can stuff the filler around the items for a tighter fit. In addition to employing filler to hide holes, you can also mix it up by using silk flowers, scented pinecones, Christmas themed floral picks, holiday greenery, or other embellishments.
 
Furthermore, you can also use a low temperature hot glue gun to adhere items together that don’t want to stay in place. If you don’t have a glue gun, glue dots and tape work as well.
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Wrap the Gift Basket for Your Client

Finally, wrap your client gift basket with clear cellophane. Then tie off the top with a ribbon. If desired, you can heat the cellophane with a blow dryer on the lowest setting to shrink the plastic around the client holiday gift basket.
 
Alternately, you can also wrap the basket, depending on the size, with a tea towel or picnic blanket. Or try using a sheer fabric, such as tulle from your local fabric store.
 
If you’re incorporating large items in your gift, that stay in place easily, you can skip this step.
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Add Embellishments

You can decorate your client gift baskets to make them unique. Tie a Christmas ornament onto the basket handle nestled in with the bow. Or wrap Christmas garland around the handle in lieu of using ribbon.

What Can I Use Instead of a Gift Basket?

Just because you’re making a holiday gift basket doesn’t mean you have to use an actual basket for the components. There are all sorts of other containers that can be repurposed for this use. We love choosing a functional and useful alternative to traditional baskets.
 
Here are some of our favorite alternate vessels you can utilize for this purpose:
 
  • If your customer recently moved into a new home, you could give a dual-purpose holiday gift basket by also making it a real estate closing gift basket. We love the idea of using a laundry basket, small trashcan, or cleaning bucket (something all new homeowners can use!) as a vessel for your gifts.
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  • Sturdy gift boxes, decorative storage baskets, and wooden craft store crates are another great option.
  • Canning or mason jars are an excellent solution for small gift baskets, especially if your clients are gardeners or preppers. You can fill these with bags of specialty spices and recipe cards or even small gifts like cookie cutters and holiday sprinkles.
  • Large mixing bowls or wire storage baskets are perfect for holiday themed baskets for bakers, foodies, and cooks.
  • A shoulder bag, canvas tote or reusable shopping bag is another viable alternative. While baskets are often shelved in storage, bags are reused regularly.
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  • Use an oven mitt as the basket and fill it with tools for baking.
  • Using a glass pitcher or tea pot is a creative solution when you want to skip the basket entirely in favor of supplying your client with just gifts that they can use.
  • A stiff straw hat, such as one you’d wear for gardening, is a fresh approach to a themed customer gift basket.
  • Small sleighs are also a great option for the Christmas season.
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Unique Holiday Gift Basket Ideas from REALTORS®

If you’re looking for unique holiday gift baskets to give your clients this Christmas, consider some of these popular gift basket themes:

  • A brunch basket filled with Blood Mary mix, smoked salmon, waffle mix, and other tasty snacks.
  • Give a self-care gift basket with all the ingredients for a relaxing night in. Things like candles, a spa mitt, bath bombs, a sleep mask, body scrubs, and face masks are perfect.
  • Traditional fruit baskets take the guesswork out of choosing personalized gifts for clients. Include seasonal fruits and nuts as an easy solution.
  • Create a cheese lovers baskets with a personalized cheese cutting board, gourmet cheese, artisan crackers, and a cheese knife.
  • Art themed baskets make a wonderful gift basket idea for crafters and artists. Fill yours with a customized art box organizer and tools such as an art journal, paintbrushes, markers, or pencils.​
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  • Gourmet food gift baskets with themed food gifts such as infused olive oil, olives, specialty condiments, fruit, cheese, and crackers are a popular option.
  • If you have real estate clients that love to travel, then consider a traveler’s themed basket. This could include a personalized passport cover, a travel kit, a credit card multi tool, and other useful gadgets for travelers.
  • A housewarming basket is perfect for new homeowners! A welcome mat, dish towels, kitchen gadgets, candles, a personalized wood cutting board, and even snacks are all nice additions.
  • Wine gift baskets are another popular choice. These are easy to fill with a selection of wine, cheese, and crackers in addition to chocolate. You can also include a wine tasting journal, wine glasses for two, a personalized corkscrew, a gift certificate for a tasting at a local winery, or a wine related book, such as The Wine Bible.
  • You can also create your Christmas gifts baskets with a holiday specific theme. Include oranges, a shelled nut assortment with a nutcracker, chocolate oranges and Christmas candy, Christmas cookies or other holiday baked goods.
  • Coffee gift crates are always appreciated by coffee lovers. Fill it with artisan coffees or whole bean coffee from a favorite local coffee shop. Then add biscotti or other cookies, a personalized mug, a coffee grinder, and other coffee accessories. You can also build a similar holiday gift basket for clients using loose leaf teas and specialty tea gadgets.
  • I also love the idea of a family themed dinner basket for new homeowners and large families. Rather than using a basket for this real estate agent gift, try a slow cooker instead! Then fill it with an oil mister or olive oil, a personalized apron, a family favorite crockpot cookbook, spice blends, and other non-perishable foodstuffs commonly used in slow cooker recipes.
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Can REALTORS® Give Gifts to Clients?

Yes, you can give your real estate clients a holiday gift basket. This is assuming that you aren’t giving a gift in return for a favor or kickback.
 
Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) states that “no person shall give and no person shall accept any fee, kickback, or thing of value pursuant to any agreement or understanding, oral or otherwise, that business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan shall be referred to any person.” 
 
In short, this means that if you are giving a gift as a thank you without any strings attached, it’s perfectly fine. (You can read a more in-depth explanation of this and similar rules here.)

Can You Deduct Gifts to Clients on Your Taxes?

Yes! You can deduct client gifts on your taxes. However, the IRS does have limits on the amount you can use as a deduction. In general, you can only $25 for gifts per recipient each calendar year. The exception to this is entertainment themed gifts, such as tickets. For this type of gift, you may deduct $50 per year for each client.
 
There are some exceptions to this, however. Branded gifts with your business information can potentially be written off at 100%. This is because they are considered a promotional or advertising expense. However, we recommend that you check with a tax professional in your area or state for clarification before making any purchasing decisions.
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We hope that you find these ideas for making holiday client gift baskets useful! For more gift giving tips, also be sure to check out our holiday client gifts! This corporate gift guide is filled with lots of great personalized, client gift ideas for Christmas.
 
For more information on great custom client gifts, subscribe to our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The Best Ideas for Closing Gifts from REALTORS®

9/23/2021

 
Both housewarming and closing gifts are a great way to not only celebrate a new beginning for your clients, but to also build those relationships. By giving a thoughtful, personalized gift to homebuyers when they close on a home, your help to strengthen your influence and obtain referrals down the road for your real estate business.
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Keep reading to discover the best closing gifts from REALTORS®. Plus get advice on how much to spend on a real estate closing gifts with tips for choosing the perfect items.

Do REALTORS® Give Closing Gifts?

While buyers may not expect to receive a closing gift from their real estate agent, it’s normal for REALTORS® to give clients a token of their appreciation. Closing gifts from agents are considered a common courtesy within the industry.
 
You can relay your appreciation with a real estate closing gift or housewarming gift. A solid way to thank loyal customers for their business, these simple gestures also help to end the buying or selling process on a bright note.
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Can REALTORS® Give Gifts to Clients?

There is a common real estate rumor that agents aren’t allowed to legally give gifts to clients. Variations of this state that gifts over a $25 are prohibited. This is mostly inaccurate, although it does depend on the circumstance.
 
Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) states that “no person shall give and no person shall accept any fee, kickback, or thing of value pursuant to any agreement or understanding, oral or otherwise, that business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan shall be referred to any person.” 
 
In short, this means that you can’t give a gift in return for a favor. Nor can you promise a gift as a result of a finalized service. However, if you are giving a gift as a thank you without any strings attached, this is okay. (You can read a more in-depth explanation of this and similar rules here.)
 
Further, the $25 rule seems to originate from a basic IRS rule that clients cannot deduct more than $25 for gifts on their taxes. That’s not to say you can’t give a gift exceeding this amount. Simply put, if you give a gift that exceeds $25 you can only take the allowed tax deduction for that gift. Again, there are several exceptions to the $25 rule. These pertain to entertainment gifts as well as branded gifts that are considered promotional or advertising materials. (You can find more on this below.)
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Why You Should Give Clients a REALTOR® Closing Gift

There are a lot of great reasons to give a real estate closing gift to clients. Here’s why many agents engage in this practice:

  • Housewarming gifts from REALTORS® finalize the buying process. They are a wonderful way to thank clients for their trust in you to get the job done.
  • It’s not just a great business strategy, but also a highly recommended one.
  • When you pass on the opportunity to thank clients with a gift, you also miss out the chance to secure future referrals. This small touch helps to ensure that customers remember you and recommend you in the future.
  • Housewarming gifts are a great way to encourage positive online reviews on Zillow, a Google business page, and social media.
  • Not only does this thoughtful gesture leave a long-lasting impression with both buyers and sellers, but they also help your clients view you as more than a business acquaintance. So, it’s a great steppingstone for building lifetime relationships.​
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  • It’s an easy way to provide exceptional customer service and keep you top-of-mind.
  • Giving gifts falls in line with the old business principle that it costs five times as much to attract a new customer as it does to retain an existing one. According to research, increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%. Therefore, maintaining a quality relationship with homebuyers can result in significantly more referrals than if you allow your services to be forgotten.
  • Companies (and agents!) that establish a strong emotional connection with customers receive three times as many referrals than those who don’t nurture those relationships. While word-of-mouth marketing can improve the effective of your marketing campaigns by as much as 54%.
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How Much Should a REALTOR® Spend on a Closing Gift?

As a rule of thumb, you should spend somewhere between 1-5% of your gross commission from a closing on a housewarming gift. When working with high-end clients, you may need to consider a higher quality gift rather than a run of the mill real estate closing gift basket to get the results you want.
 
According to feedback from real estate professionals on Alignable, most agents give gifts in the $25-$100 price range. Ultimately however, how much you should spend on a closing gift depends on your budget. When things are tight financially, I like to refer back to the old adage that you have to spend money to make money.
 
That said, giving a meaningful gift doesn’t have to cost a lot. It simply needs to represent your gratitude to the client. We find that giving personalized gifts is the best way to accomplish this.
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Tips for Choosing Real Estate Closing Gifts That Stand Out

Here are some tips to help you choose the best client gifts.

  • Check out the social media profile of clients to get a gauge for their interests when choosing a gift.
  • Not sure what to give? Ask carefully crafted questions to get hints as to whether they’d like the gift you have in mind for them.
  • Connect with their coworkers on LinkedIn to see if a gift would be suitable.
  • Avoid giving branded gifts that don’t have purpose. You want your closing gifts to be beneficial to clients, so they are reminded of you when they use them.
  • Don’t be afraid to get creative. Choose custom gifts that are both personal and memorable.
  • Personalize the gift for the homebuyer. Any branding or advertising, if included, should be minimal. After all, this gift is about them, not you. Customizing your gift with a message personal to them will have a lasting impact. (You can always include your contact information on a business card or personalized greeting card.)
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  • Give gifts that are both practical and thoughtful. Quality keepsake gifts are a wonderful choice. While gifts from a local company can have additional impact.
  • Rather than giving a real estate closing gift the day when things are hectic, gift it shortly thereafter as a thoughtful housewarming gift.
  • Present you housewarming or closing gift in person for a positive contact experience and to further build your relationship. You can also use this opportunity to inquire about their new home and ask for referrals.
  • If you are selling commercial real estate, give a gift to the entire company rather than one specific individual.
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  • Stay in touch after the sale. While a housewarming present is a delightful way to show clients you care, periodically reaching out helps to extend the value of the relationship and further encourage referrals. Therefore, don’t forget to follow up in a year with a home anniversary card! Or send out a referral thank you card for new prospects. Consistency is key for staying in the forefront of clients’ minds.
  • Remember to deduct up to the legal amount for your closing gift on taxes. Save your receipts so you don’t miss out on potential savings when you file your end-of-year taxes.

Ideas for Real Estate Agent Closing Gifts

Now that you know that housewarming gifts are a great way to nurture your client relationships and gain referrals, you may need help figuring out what REALTORS® give as closing gifts. Here are some great real estate closing gift ideas you can give to new homeowners to make sure you aren’t forgotten.
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  • Framed map of the town or city where they moved. A framed map makes a unique gift in addition to personalized home décor. You can personalize the map with a custom message and the family name of your client in addition to starring their location.
  • Welcome mat personalized with their name. A custom door mat is an easy way to welcome someone to their new home. And, in turn, perfect for the new homeowners to welcome first time guests.
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  • First day home survival tool kit. I don’t know about you, but whenever I move, I find that I’m missing things or am lacking the tools I need to get my house in order. A home essentials tool tote contains all the basics you need to tackle small household projects. So, whether a client needs to hang a picture or make minor repairs, this thoughtful and intuitive gift covers all the bases.
  • Personalized cutting boards. Everyone can use a good, sturdy cutting board in their home. A house-shaped cutting board is perfect for a housewarming gift when a buyer closes on a new home. Or gift a beautiful, custom cherry cutting board with your client’s monogram or a warm message to remind them that “home is where the heart is.”
  • Spice rack. Spice racks and other home goods are another popular choice for housewarming gifts from REALTORS®. Useful tools such as serving ware, magnetic bottle openers or kitchen scrapers are also a nice gesture and can be included in a real estate closing gift basket.
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  • Home sweet home sign. Returning home after being away is a great reminder that home is your happy place. Therefore, a sign of this nature is well suited for a real estate closing gift. In addition to a sign, you can also purchase personalized wood cutting boards, heritage chests, and custom coaster sets that feature this verbiage as part of the design.
  • Small plant or tree. This type of gift is especially valuable if your customer has a green thumb. Obviously, you don’t want to buy a tree for someone who just bought a condo. However, when my parents bought their first home in 1975, they planted a maple tree in the front yard.
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  • Real estate closing gift basket. It’s easy to put together a gift basket that caters to your client’s tastes. Choose food provisions that you know your customers will like, then pair them with personalized housewares. Kitchen serving ware goes well with cheese and crackers, while this 3-piece entertainment set is perfect paired with basics such as tea towels and potholders.
  • Artisan coffee and custom mug. Coffee drinkers will ALWAYS appreciate the gift of coffee. Give buyers a personalized mug with their monogram or a photo of their pet along with a bag of two of their favorite artisan coffee. Or pair it with a bag from their favorite local coffee shop.
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  • Custom cutlery. We’ve found that a lot of real estate agents give custom cutlery as housewarming gifts. Not only can these be personalized for the recipient, but they’re also available with a gorgeous acacia wood box for a beautiful presentation.
  • A free rekey of their new home. Homebuyers want to feel safe and secure in their new space. Part of this means rekeying the locks when they move in. You can save clients both the hassle and expense of doing this themselves by paying a professional to handle the task for them.
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  • Personalized wine gift set. Giving a bottle of wine is a common gift for a housewarming. However, you can make this gift memorable by creating a gift set. Simply pair the bottle of wine with a personalized wine box or heritage box for a beautiful presentation. The boxes remain as a wonderful keepsake long after the wine is gone.
  • Personalized coaster sets. These custom coasters come in a set of six and can be personalized with a warm message and a subtle reminder of your business. Professionally printed to resist condensation, this product is available in a wide range of designs and shapes with a number of personalization options.
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  • Knife block set. Everyone can use a set of quality knives in the kitchen! Both the block and each of the knives in these gorgeous, rosewood knife block sets can be engraved with your personalization or message for a truly remarkable gift for your luxury real estate clients.
  • Gourmet grilling set. If you know your customers love outdoor barbecues, then this personalized grilling set is a fantastic way to score points with your clients. The spatula in this set features a built-in bottle opener, so it’s perfect for parties and beer connoisseurs.
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  • Happy closing day cards. In addition to, or in lieu of a closing gift, you can also give buyers a handwritten happy closing day card or personalized note card. These are inexpensive, but necessary gestures to foster your business relationships.
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Are Real Estate Agent Closing Gifts Tax Deductible?

The IRS has strict limits on the amount you can deduct for client gifts. In general, you can only $25 for gifts per recipient each calendar year. The exception to this is entertainment themed gifts, such as tickets. For this type of gift, you may deduct $50 per year for each client.
 
There are some exceptions to this, however. Branded gifts with your business information can potentially be written off at 100%. This is because they are considered a promotional or advertising expense. However, we recommend that you check with a tax professional in your area or state for clarification before making any purchasing decisions.
 
We hope our ideas for closing gifts from REALTORS® helps you pick the best products to say thank you. For more housewarming gift ideas, also be sure to check out information on our best closing gift, the Ulu Elite®, as well as our client holiday gift guide.
Love what you see? Then make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for product updates and promotions. You can also follow Magnets USA® on Facebook and Instagram.

How to Carve Pumpkins with Tips, Tools and Ideas for Beginners

9/21/2021

 
Learn how to carve pumpkins for your Halloween decorations this fall. This easy guide provides tools, tips, and ideas to help you plan and create the perfect jack-o-lantern.
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This is the year to become a pumpkin-carving pro. A jack-o'-lantern ace. A prince or princess of the patch. But you won't be able to succeed alone. No, you'll need an army of carefully crafted cutlery and insider intel. Luckily, we've got some great pumpkin carving tips to help you get started!

Where Did Pumpkin Carving Originate?

The custom of carving pumpkins to create jack-o-lanterns is believed to have originated in Ireland. Residents in parts of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands originally carved turnips and field beets, called mangle-wurzels, with grotesque faces to frighten off a drunkard from an Irish myth called Stingy Jack.
 
Prior to his death, it’s believed that Jack tricked the devil over a deal for monetary gain. When he died, he was denied entry into heaven. At the same time, the devil, upset by Jack’s constant trickery, also refused him admittance. As a result, Jack was sentenced to roam earth for all eternity.

When Irish immigrants came to America, they brought this tradition with them. However, they chose to carve pumpkins for this purpose as they were native to the region.
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The Celtic festival Samhain marks the end of summer and the beginning of the new year on November 1st. During this time, it’s believed that souls who had died would return to visit their homes.
 
When the Roman Catholic Church moved All Saints’ Day to the first of November, All Hallows’ Eve fell on the day prior. Keeping with Samhain tradition, people began to wear disguises to hide themselves from wandering ghosts. Around the same time, the tradition of carving turnips to ward off Stingy Jack was also incorporated into the holiday to ward off evil spirits.
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What is the Best Pumpkin for Carving?

Before you carve a jack-o-lantern, you need to pick a pumpkin. You want to choose a carving pumpkin, rather than one meant for pies for the best results. Carving pumpkins have a thinner rind that’s well suited for carving. They also have less flesh on the inside.
 
Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins are the best, and most popular, type of pumpkins for carving. They have thin walls that make them easy to cut. Plus, they’re readily available throughout the season at most grocery stores. Assuming you don’t have the chance to visit your local pumpkin patch.
 
Other suitable pumpkins varieties you can use include:
 
  • Hobbit Pumpkins
  • White Lumina Pumpkins
  • Cinderella Pumpkins
  • Autumn Gold
  • Gold Rush Pumpkins
  • Wolf Pumpkin
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How to Pick a Pumpkin

Following are some easy guidelines for picking pumpkins to carve:
 
  • Choose pumpkins with a hard shell that will stand up to carving, but that is easy to cut through with a knife. If the shell feels as hard as wood, pick another one as cutting through especially hard shells can be dangerous.
  • Thick walls can prevent light from showing through the inside of your jack-o-lantern. Therefore, choose a gourd that has thin walls. Pumpkins with thinner walls have a hollow sound when tapped. While heavier pumpkins have thicker walls.​
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  • Pumpkin varieties such as Baby Bear, Baby Boo, and Wee-B-Little are small pumpkins that shouldn’t be discounted. These are the perfect size for kids to carve if you don’t need a giant jack-o-lantern on your front porch.
  • While the shape of tall, oblong pumpkins may be appealing and work well with your design, they do have limitations. Tall, thin pumpkins may not balance well or can fall over easily. Therefore, be sure any pumpkins you pick have a balanced base. Also, keep in mind that oblong varieties often have stringy insides that can make precise cuts more challenging.
  • Ensure that the bottom of the pumpkin isn’t soft or mushy. You also want to choose winter squash that has a flat bottom, so it doesn’t rock or roll.
  • The stem of your Halloween pumpkins should be firm and secure. You also want to take care that you don’t pick up the pumpkin from its stem. This can cause breakage which diminishes its shelf life.
  • Choose pumpkins with a smooth surface to make carving your designs easier, assuming it fits the look you’re after. You also want to avoid produce that is bruised or has a marred surface.
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Best Pumpkin Carving Tools

By choosing the best pumpkin carving tools to create your jack-o-lanterns, you’re more likely to succeed in designing the perfect Halloween décor. Here are the top tools for carving unique pumpkin designs.
 
  • Quality Kitchen Knives. Say BOO! to those tiny, plastic pumpkin carving kits that break mid-cut, and hello to sharp cutlery that's heroic enough for the job! For our Magnets USA-inspired pumpkin, we chose our LifeLong Cutlery paring (left) and filet knives. However, you can use any sharp knife that’s sturdy enough to handle the task. Or try a keyhole saw for curved cuts.
  • Kitchen Scrapers. While our Super Scrapers are great for cleaning messy pans, they also perform extra tasks with ease. One of those duties includes scraping out pumpkin guts. This tool is an easy way to remove the innards from winter squash so you can get down to business. You can also use and ice cream paddle or scoop as well as a small, serrated fleshing tool used in ceramics.
  • Hole Cutters. Another tool utilized by potters, hold cutters are basically short metal pipes with sharpened ends. They can be used to create lace designs or punch clean circular shapes into pumpkin walls.
  • Needle Tool. For intricate designs you want to trace onto your pumpkin, consider a needle tool. This allows you to easily transfer your design onto any gourd so it’s easy to carve. You can also use a T-Pin as an alternative.
  • Linoleum Cutter. If you love detailed designs, then consider a linoleum cutter used to cut wooden blocks for printing. These tools are not only inexpensive, but they also provide different sizes and patterns to help your creativity flow. Likewise, X-Acto knives are also great for intricate details.
  • Cookie Cutters. Metal Halloween cookie cutters are a fun and easy way to cut out perfect shapes. Simply use a rubber mallet to tap the cookie cutters into the pumpkin rind.
  • Melon Baller. This kitchen tool is another great way to decorate Halloween pumpkins. Use it to carve spheres into the pumpkin shell for light to shine through when lit.
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Pumpkin Carving Tips and Tricks

Now that you know how to choose the perfect Halloween pumpkin for carving, here are some tips to get the job done!
 
  • If you plan to use battery-powered lights in your jack-o-lantern, carve a circle out of the bottom to preserve the top. For candles or tealights, cut a hole in the top.
  • Make sure you buy a pumpkin with stem. A thick, green stem works best and indicates the pumpkin has thick walls as well.
  • Don’t be afraid to pick oddly shaped pumpkins. Depending on your design, the weirder the shaped, the more unique design you can create.
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  • Scoop out as much of the pumpkin guts as possible. The thinner the walls, the longer your pumpkin will last. This will also help to delay mold growth.
  • Research design ideas before you start carving! This prevents mistakes and allows you to sketch out the design onto the pumpkin before you begin.
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  • The easiest way to use a pre-made pattern or design you printed onto paper is to first tape the paper onto the face of the pumpkin. Then use a fork, pencil, or needle tool to poke holes along the lines you want to cut out.
  • Pumpkins don’t last forever. For the best-looking jack-o-lantern on the block, carve your pumpkin no more than two to three days prior to your event or Halloween party.
  • Light up your jack-o-lantern using an LED or CFL light. Other types of lights, as well as candles, give off heat that can cook the pumpkin form the inside, shortening its lifespan.
  • Make rough design cuts first to remove large pieces from the gourd. Once you the basics carved out, you can then go back and clean up the design or add additional details.
  • When cutting your pumpkin with a knife, use clean up-and-down slices. You want to avoid making cuts on a slant.
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  • Keep your pumpkin scraps to create additional design elements for your Halloween jack-o-lantern. You can use these pieces to cut out a tongue, hair accessories, or other features from leftover chunks of pumpkin shell.
  • Save your seeds! Pepitas, or pumpkin seeds, are delicious when seasoned and roasted.

How to Carve Pumpkins for Halloween

Ready to carve a jack-o-lantern? Here is how to carve your pumpkin for your Halloween decorations.

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1. Choose the tools you need for your design. While a sharp knife is a must, you may also want to use some of the other instruments we mentioned previously to help you successfully execute your design. 
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2. Start at the bottom of the pumpkin. Rather than cutting a hole around the stem to remove the top, make one at the base of the pumpkin instead. (If you're using a real candle, then cut a hole in the top for ventilation.)
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This way, you can place the pumpkin over the light, instead of having to reach inside the pumpkin to position the battery operated candle. Pro tip: With your paring knife, carve an indention for the LED tea light to sit comfortably. ​
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3. Remove the pumpkin guts. Arguably the best part of carving a pumpkin, removing the insides is the time to conjure that messy kid you used to be. So roll up your sleeves, put on your game face and go for it. You can wear gloves for this step, if desired. We recommend using you hands first to remove the loose material. Then try one of the suggested tools from scraping out the excess.
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4. Use a needle tool to trace your design onto the pumpkin. With your design taped to the pumpkin, use a thumbtack to establish an outline. When it comes to jack-o'-lanterns, staying inside the lines is a good thing — and will help prevent your freaky Frankenstein or cackling cat from becoming one terrifying blob.
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5. Make thoughtful, strategic cuts. We suggest starting with the smallest parts of your design. The paring knife, which features a short, easy-to-control blade, is a great detailing knife. For the larger sections, we found that the filet knife, with its thin and flexible blade, was best.
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6. Polish off your jack-o-lantern design. When you're finished cutting and all the pieces have been removed, it's time to add the finishing touches. Use your paring knife to carefully shave any ragged edges or remove stray guts.

Jack-O-Lantern Design Ideas

Need design ideas for your Halloween pumpkins? Here are just a few designs you can try whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pumpkin carving pro! Simply scroll through the slideshow to see them all.
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How to Keep Your Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns Fresh

Unfortunately, jack-o-lanterns don’t last forever. If you plan decorate your front porch with carved gourds this Halloween, then be sure to follow this advice for keeping your pumpkins fresh longer.

  • Store uncut pumpkin in a cool, dry location out of direct sunlight and heat. Hot weather can cause winter squash to rot faster. On the other hand, freezing temperatures can also be harmful. We recommend storing your gourds in a cool basement until you’re ready to use them.
  • To preserve a cut pumpkin, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Then store your jack-o-lantern in the refrigerator for up to three days before your party or Halloween trick-or-treating.
  • Fresh pumpkins last longer if they aren’t cut. Therefore, hold off on carving these Halloween decorations until closer to the holiday. A gourd that’s cut on October 1st likely won’t survive until the 31st.
  • To extend the shelf life of carved pumpkins, treat them with either bleach or a bleach substitute. To do this, simply mix one Tablespoon of bleach with a quart of water. Then combine in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto both the interior and exterior of your carved creations, then allow it to air dry. If you want an eco-friendly alternative, try a combo of peppermint Castile soap and water instead.
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  • Just as petroleum jelly helps protect skin from outside elements, it can also protect your pumpkins! Apply this product to all the cut edges of your jack-o-lantern as well as the inside of the pumpkin to prevent moisture loss. This can help keep your design from shriveling away into nothing.
  • For pumpkins that have prematurely dried before the occasion, you can soak them in water to help revive their original appearance. While this solution is temporary, it can freshen up your jack-o-lantern for that one last hooray. Simply soak it in a bucket of cool water for several hours, then drain.
If you enjoyed our post on how to carve Halloween pumpkins, then also be sure to check out tutorial on how to make a holiday charcuterie board.

Or, to discover more fun DIY projects, make sure to follow us on your favorite social media platforms. You can find Magnets USA on both Facebook and Instagram.

Real Estate Social Media Post Ideas that Increase Conversions

9/17/2021

 
​Connect with prospective clients and increase conversions among existing customers with a thoughtful social media campaign. Our real estate social media post ideas not only help you relate to your target audience, but they also increase loyalty among your followers and can help you convert leads into customers.
 
Keep reading to discover the best social media for REALTORS® along with content ideas you can share. Plus learn how to promote your social networks to gain followers and increase engagement.
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Is Social Media an Effective Marketing Tool for REALTORS®?

Social media is a great way to find new clients and engage current real estate customers. The best part it, it doesn’t cost you a dime to use social media as a real estate marketing tool.
 
Here’s what we know:

  • According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors, 44% of ALL prospective home buyers looked for properties online as a first step in their search.
  • Out of those searching for homes online, 99% of millennials and 90% of baby boomers started searching for homes online rather than using an in-person referral.
  • Out of those survey respondents who used a mobile device to conduct their search, 76% of all buyers found a home on mobile. While 17% of these buyers also found an agent using this method.
  • 77% of real estate agents utilize social media for their profession.
  • Nearly half of all REALTORS® who use social media for marketing report gaining higher quality leads than other methods. For example, social media generates 47% of all technology leads whereas email marketing provides just 17%.
 
However, it is important to have a strategy in place when creating real estate social media content. Your posts should be both consistent and engaging for them to be effective. You also want to make certain to post to the right social media channels.
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What is the Best Social Media Platform for Real Estate

If you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to social media marketing, then you should target the top social media platforms for real estate. NAR indicates that these three platforms produce the best results for agents:

  • Facebook: Facebook is great because their user demographics are largely comprised of your target audience. Approximately 97% of agents use this platform as it’s an easy way to reach large numbers of prospects. In addition, their business tools make it easy to connect with customers, solicit reviews and book appointments.
  • LinkedIn: LinkedIn is used by 59% of REALTORS®. However, unlike Facebook, this platform is more for business-to-business connections. While you aren’t as likely to reach potential clients here, it is extremely useful for networking with related industries and to share your digital resume. This network also helps to establish your realty company professionally as a brand.
  • Instagram: While only 39% of real estate professionals use Instagram, this social media platform is extremely popular among users. It’s a great place to share visually appealing photographs and blog posts, or to dive deeper into more personal aspects of your services.
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Other Social Media Platforms for REALTORS®

Just because Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram are the top social media platforms used by real estate agents doesn’t mean you’re only limited to those three. We recommend trying several social networks, then settling on the ones that work best for you.
 
Here are other social networks you can employ to market your real estate business:

  • Twitter: Twitter is sort of a cross between Facebook and Instagram. Hashtags are vital here as are short, concise posts. However, you do have the ability to share both images and videos.
  • ActiveRain: This service is similar to LinkedIn. However, rather than being a broad B2B service, ActiveRain is geared specifically to professionals in the real estate industry. Members use this network to get advice, build connections, and grow referrals. In addition, they also offer a blog platform for agents to create their own content.
  • MeetUp: Designed for networking locally within your community, MeetUp offers tools to help you grow your business and share events. You can also join or create groups relevant to the services you offer. Use it to connect with like-minded professionals, to share content about the area you work in, or to interact with prospective homebuyers.
  • NextDoor: This platform is specifically a neighborhood network to garner advice, gather information, and build connections with the people who live nearby. Professionals use NextDoor to provide relevant services to their neighbors or to sell products. You can learn more about the business tools they offer here.
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Real Estate Social Media Post Ideas

We briefly covered how to utilize social media to market your real estate business in a previous post. Today, we want to expand on content ideas that you can use to increase engagement and grow your followers organically.
 
Here are our ideas on what to post on social media as a REALTOR®:
  • Share personal aspects of your life. Include fun stories or photographs. You aren’t just selling your services, but also yourself. People want to know you are relatable and enjoyable to work with, and that you are someone they can trust.
  • Tell stories about the homes you’re selling. Sharing photos and descriptions of a home’s features are obviously important to the sale. However, by sharing stories around other people’s experiences living there helps to romanticize the listing so clients can envision their future life there.
  • Post new listings. As real estate is the core of your business, social media is a great opportunity to share new listings. This is an easy way to reach a wide range of people, including those you may not have interacted with previously. Encourage others to tag their friends on these real estate social media posts. For example, “Is this the dream home your friend’s been looking for? Tag them in this listing!”
  • Create video walkthroughs. Seeing photos of a house is one thing. Feeling like you’re there is a totally different experience. Video walkthroughs are an innovative and easy way to help prospective clients save time and get excited about a new home. Plus, you can use them not just in standard posts but on Instagram stories or reels.
  • Celebrate one-year home anniversaries. First-time homebuyers love home anniversaries. Not only is this a great opportunity to reconnect and send a housiversary card, but it’s also the perfect real estate social media idea. We like the idea of sharing a photo of the happy homeowners in front of their new home along with your well wishes for the family.
  • Share upcoming events. Another great idea for real estate social media posts is to share your upcoming events. Whether you’re hosting an open house or a client appreciation event, social media marketing is a great way to get the word out! Make sure to include a shout out to any other companies who helped with event to expand your reach. You can also encourage clients to tag you when sharing photos of their participation on their own accounts.
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  • Commemorate closing day. Closing on a home is cause for celebration for both you and your clients. Along with wishing the homeowners with a happy closing day card, you can also share the excitement on your social accounts. In addition to an exciting (and staged) photograph, make sure to tag anyone who assisted in the transaction and include fund details about the new house or customer experience.
  • Share customer testimonials. While it’s easy to brag about your achievements, testimonials from clients will have the greatest impact. Share the best line or two from the feedback you receive with a relevant graphic or photograph. Also don’t forget to name and tag the clients you quote within the post, along with their city or location.
  • Post photos from community events. Highlight your dedication to your community by sharing photos from local events you’ve attended. Include reasons you attended, your favorite activity, and why you’re so delighted to be part of the local community. You can also highlight a specific cause or any community service you may be involved in. Or simply talk about your recent trip to the farmer’s market for another engaging real estate social media post idea.
  • Educate your audience. Whether you are answering common questions from buyers or providing tips for staging a home to sell, your posts can also be a valuable resource to start familiarizing prospects about the process of buying or selling a home. You can also include information on how to save on energy bills, home décor, and local market updates. Or provide links to related resources that you’ve shared on your website or blog for more real estate social media post ideas.​
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  • Incorporate personal details. Most of us use social media to stay in contact with friends and family. We want to know what’s happening in the lives of those we care about. Therefore, don’t be afraid to share personal information from your own life. One of my favorite real estate agents shares photos from his vacations on his real estate social media accounts. He also includes pictures of his garden haul and new recipes he’s cooked for his family.
  • Inspire your audience. At a loss as to what to write? Share a favorite motivational quote, and inspiring message to start the work week, or share a real estate themed meme guaranteed to make your readers laugh.
  • Take the opportunity to publicly say thank you. Relationships are at the core of real estate. Part of building those relationships involves being kind to others, helping those in need, and saying thanks. While sending real estate thank you cards is an established marketing strategy, so is giving someone a shout out for their efforts. Tag the person you are mentioning and share a photo that represents the service or gift you are grateful for along with your words of appreciation.
  • Cross market to your website or blog. If have a website or a blog with information that is valuable to your customers, then you can also use this material for your real estate social media posts. Design your social media content to complement the core of the article, then link back to it so customers can find more information.
  • Make your pet a mascot. People love animals. There are entire sites dedicated to funny animal videos for a reason. If you have a pet, you can make him or her your furry (or feathered) mascot! Share pictures of you with your dog or cat taking over your workspace or helping out on the scene of a pet-friendly open house.
  • Ask questions. If you real estate social media content lacks engagement, try asking questions! Most folks love to chime in with their own tips or advice. So, it’s an easy way to increase interaction on social media accounts so you are viewed more favorably in the algorithm that platform has set. Inquire about dog-friendly parks or favorite restaurants. You can even just ask “What’s for dinner?”
  • Provide fun facts. Share a fun fact about where you live along with a related photo or an interesting quirk about working in the real estate industry. Alternately, you can also provide fun quips or interesting information about yourself that most people won’t know.
  • Create holiday posts. Most of us celebrate holidays whether it’s Mother’s Day or National Donut Day. Share a holiday post on these days with a fun or moving story that is tied to the event. Just take care to be as inclusive as possible while remaining sensitive to any religious holidays.
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How to Market Real Estate on Social Media

Now that you have a handy list of real estate social media post ideas you can use for real estate, it’s important to promote the social media platforms on which you’re active. There are several ways to get your message out to interested parties. Here are some of the easiest plans you can implement to make social media work for you.
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Fill out Your Social Media Profiles

It’s important to use a business account for your social media networks. Not only does this keep your personal and professional life separate, but it also provides you with additional tools that you can use to promote your services. Make sure you include complete contact information in all your bios so it’s easy for clients to get in touch.
 
We suggest including the following:
 
  • Business name
  • Physical location
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Website or landing page
 
You can also enable messaging services on social that offer this benefit. Or include a call-to-action button.
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Engage with Your Followers

In addition to sharing these real estate social media post ideas, it’s also important to engage with followers and prospective clients who comment on your posts. There are algorithms in place across every social media platform that reward engagement. By responding to comments, sharing posts, and interacting with other pages or within groups, you ensure your messages are seen by as many eyes as possible.

Consider Paid Advertising

If you’re just starting out or want to highlight specific real estate social media content, you can also pay for ads. Paid promotions allow you to target your demographic based on their interests and the area in which they live.
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Create a Social Media Content Calendar

While you are selling a service to potential customers, it is also important that you aren’t constantly making a pitch. Therefore, we advise creating a content calendar outlining what posts or types of information you’ll share throughout the week. (You can use a content scheduler, such as Later, to save time and streamline the process.)
 
When creating a calendar of topics to cover, be sure to mix up sales style posts with other forms of content. Success stores, personal achievements, happy customers and even educational information work great sprinkled in between your promotional posts. You definitely want your personality to shine through when using social media to promote your real estate business.
 
Furthermore, a content calendar allows you to post consistently. Consistent content will help your engagement score as it is considered in network social algorithms.
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Create Relevant Landing Pages

In addition to your social media post creation, it’s also important to consider the landing page customers visit. We recommend not only including your website and contact information across all your social media platforms so it’s easy to locate, but also carefully considering the page you’re sending them to.
 
Landing pages should convey a similar message to your post as well as offer additional information. Therefore, you should have more than one landing page, so they cover different types of content. Moreover, those pages should provide a way to sign up for email quickly and easily or to schedule an appointment to discuss your services further. By crafting thoughtful landing pages that anticipates your customer’s desire to discover more information, you increase potential leads.
 
While platforms such as Instagram don’t allow you click through to links in the post, you can add a link to your bio for this purpose. Rather than changing that link to reflect each new post you make, we recommend you use a 3rd-party Instagram profile link tool that creates a page of all your posts with individual links to each. Linkin.bio by Later and Linktree are both good options for this. Both services offer free and paid plans.
 
You can also create your own custom landing page to serve this purpose. However, this can be time-consuming if it needs constant updates.

Share Your Real Estate Social Media Links

Promote links to your social media channels so people know where to find you online. Feature links to your social media accounts on your real estate website or blog to help grow new followers. Also make sure you add handles for active accounts to your business card and email signature.
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Use Relevant Real Estate Social Media Hashtags

Using hashtags can help you narrow your target audience as well as allow you to discover a new customer base. While most popular on Instagram and Twitter, Facebook has also started using hashtags in posts to show relevant information to users.
 
You can use local hashtags relevant to your location to target people in your area. For example, #roanokeva and #downtownroanoke are popular for our area as we are located in the Roanoke Valley. You can also use industry hashtags for those who are specifically interested in real estate. Or hashtags that target a specific event such as closing day or a home anniversary.
 
Additionally, we also recommend you create and use a branded hashtag specific to your business. As followers catch on to your branding, they’ll use your hashtag when sharing information about you in their own content. In turn, your page and relevant posts are easy for others to find.
 
When choosing hashtags for social media posts, you can choose up to 30 hashtags for Instagram posts and up to 10 on a story. We recommend using all 30 hashtags for Instagram. However, for Facebook, you should limit them to two or three. While on twitter we advise picking one or two of the most relevant hashtags per tweet.
 
Many of the paid social media scheduling tools provide hashtag suggestion tools to assist you when making decisions on which hashtags you should use based on popularity and relevance.
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More Ways to Promote Your Real Estate Business

We hope you found our tips on using social media and our real estate social media post ideas useful. If you still need advice on how to promote your real estate business, then be sure to check out these other valuable resources:

  • How to Market Yourself as a REALTOR®
  • Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Agents
  • How to Generate Leads at an Open House
  • Marketing Magnets for Real Estate Professionals
For more tips and promotional product ideas to keep you at the top of your marketing game, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
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